Whether it’s the extent of Tim Tszyu’s fall or Joey Spencer’s rise that will see them do battle on April 6, it certainly represents progress for the latter. The last time he fought in the same ring as Tszyu, the Australian was the headliner and Spencer merely made up the numbers in an eight-rounder on the undercard.

Tszyu defeated Terrell Gausha back in March 2022 to move to 21-0, before the world that was at his feet crumbled with consecutive defeats to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Mutazaliev last year. Spencer, who outpointed Ravshan Hudaynazarov on that night in Minneapolis, is preparing for the version of Tszyu he witnessed – and not the faltering fighter he became in his most recent performances.

“When studying Tim, we look at the fights where he performed best, not just the ones he lost,” Spencer said at today’s media workouts to promote his upcoming shot at Tszyu. “There are things to take from those losses, but we’re preparing for the best and most dangerous version of him. Anything can happen in boxing. He won a lot of fights before his first loss, so obviously, he knows what he’s doing.

"I first met Tim back in Minnesota, and I thought he put on a great performance that day [against Gausha]. I always had a feeling we’d cross paths one day. I want to fight the best in the division, and this is the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for. He’s been on my list of names I wanted to share the ring with, and now it’s happening.”

Spencer, 19-1 (11 KOs), will know that he’s been selected as fodder for Tszyu, who is already being lined up for a showdown with Keith Thurman should he win. The 24-year-old lost in a previous step-up, stopped in seven by Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jnr two years ago, but he recognizes this opportunity against Tszyu as something different altogether.

“This is probably the biggest fight I’ve headlined,” Spencer admitted. “I’ve been on some big cards with a lot of media attention, but this is definitely another level. I feel comfortable with it.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Tim fighting Keith later in the year, but we’ll see if he makes it there. Right now, all the pressure is on him. He has to win this fight for his career, for what he represents, and for his country. That pressure isn’t on me. Of course, winning is important, but he’s in a must-win situation. We’ll see how he handles it.

“As for whether he’s mentally vulnerable after his last fight, I don’t know. Everyone handles things differently. I don’t know Tim personally, so we’ll see how he comes in. I’m preparing for the best, most confident version of him—not one that’s struggling with pressure or the effects of a knockout loss. We’re focused on being ready for anything."